Auctioneers

The auction process is a key part of the secondary art and antiques market.

Firms of auctioneers usually specialise in a number of fields such as jewellery, ceramics, paintings, Asian art or coins but many also hold general sales where the goods available are not defined by a particular genre and are usually lower in value.

Auctioneers often provide other services such as probate and insurance valuations.

img_15-3.jpg

Headless Roman emperor given nod of approval

13 October 2025

A recent sale at Harper Field (20% buyer’s premium) in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, included a weathered marble figure of a Roman emperor in armour.

img_54-2.jpg

ATG letter: Identity remains unknown but artist is Smart

13 October 2025

Following your reader’s letter regarding the identity of the portrait sold at Reeman Dansie (ATG no 2711), I have nothing to add to the discussion regarding the sitter’s identity.

img_36-2.jpg

Meat and greet lots of hotly contested kitchenalia

13 October 2025

US bidders show great appetite for early 20th century display slabs hailing from the UK

img_14-6.jpg

Sèvres bottle coolers sell to French bidder at 20 times the top estimate

13 October 2025

A pair of 7in (17cm) Sèvres porcelain bottle coolers (seau à bouteille) sold for £6000 as part of Tennants’ (24% buyer’s premium) recent Country House Sale.

img_16-5.jpg

Face of Victorian Scotland captured by Brodie

13 October 2025

The Scottish sculptor William Brodie (1825-81) began his working life as a plumber’s apprentice in Aberdeen.

John Stubbe portrait

Relic of a Tudor trial turns heads at Wiltshire auction

10 October 2025

Lot 586 at Henry Aldridge’s (22% buyer’s premium) latest two-day sale was one of the more curious lots to appear at auction in recent times.

The Georgian Group's HQ

Consignment call for charity auction to raise funds for Georgian heritage conservation

09 October 2025

The Georgian Group has teamed up with Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers for a special fundraising auction.

Albert Einstein's violin

Einstein’s violin takes £860,000 at auction

08 October 2025

A violin used by Albert Einstein during his late teens and early adult life was hammered down at £860,000.

Brass dish

Cotswolds design museum launches fundraising appeal to buy Gordon Russell dish

08 October 2025

The Gordon Russell Design Museum in Broadway, Worcestershire is fundraising ahead of an auction.

Girl in her Petticoat by Dod Procter

Major auction record for Dod Procter set at Bonhams

08 October 2025

While prices for the painter Dod Procter (1891-1972) have been rising over the last decade or so, a big jump in terms of her auction record came at Bonhams (28/27% buyer’s premium) latest sale of works by Modern British women artists in London.

Harry Clarke illustration

Harry Clarke illustrations bring hefty sums in Dublin auction

07 October 2025

Dubin-born Henry Patrick Clarke (1889-1931) was one of Ireland’s leading stained-glass artists and book illustrators.

Lama Koubrously, Marta Somauroo and Ilaria Bellucci

Azca Auctions announces new team after directors depart

06 October 2025

Azca Auctions in Hammersmith, west London, has announced new recruits following the departure of the founding directors earlier this summer.

Henry Moore chalk caricature

Henry Moore captures fellow sculptor in chalk form

06 October 2025

Catherine Southon’s October 15 Fine Sale in Chislehurst includes this chalk caricature of the sculptor Cecil Gunthorp (1893-1983) done by one Henry Moore (1898-1986).

img_22-1.jpg

Sale of stand-out limited edition works puts renowned illustrator Rackham in the picture

06 October 2025

A private collection of children’s illustrated books formed over the past 50 years provided several stand-out lots in The Collector’s auction held by Catherine Southon (27.6% buyer’s premium inc VAT).

img_36-3.jpg

Hitchcock sketch presented at auction

06 October 2025

Long before it became the signature for the 1955-62 television show Alfred Hitchcock Presents, the director had perfected his self-portrait: an economic sketch of his profile rendered in just a couple of lines. Hitchcock would regularly draw and sign them for fans.

img_14-1.jpg

Not for tourists: Carved wooden stool was intended for Polynesian high society rather than the newcomers

06 October 2025

So-called no’oanga stools from Rurutu Island, the northernmost island of the Austral archipelago in Polynesia, are distinct in their deep seats and solid curving legs terminating in button-like feet.

img_19-2.jpg

Daubigny moonlight view in the spotlight

06 October 2025

The late 1850s to early 1860s was a significant period in the career of French painter Charles-François Daubigny (1817-78).

img_15-3.jpg

Crumbs… biscuit tin takes £5200

06 October 2025

Among the most desirable of all novelty biscuit tins is the William Crawford & Sons sports coupe.

img_14-9.jpg

Huge amount of pre-sale interest prompts extra spear research

06 October 2025

Like the no’oanga stool sold by Woolley & Wallis, the Polynesian ceremonial spears or staffs known as to’o also originate from the Austral Islands of Rurutu.

img_36-2.jpg

Aronson sets the scene for a surprise dramatic bids battle

06 October 2025

American actor, singer, dancer, director, and photographer Joel Grey (b.1932) is perhaps best known for his portrayal of the master of ceremonies in both the Broadway and film versions of the musical Cabaret.

News

Categories